Improvement in car-starters



' the ends.

JOSEPH F. STOKES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

, IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-STARTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,508, dated J une 27, 1871.

Y the seltpropelling car patented by me under date of April G, 1869, in which the motive-power, consisting of coiled springs applied to the axles, will revolve the wheels (While the springs'are expanding) with sufficient velocity to propel the car at a suitable rate of speed; andl it consists in the devices for operating such mechanism, as hereinafter fully described.

Figure l is an end view of a railway car, showing my invention applied. Fig. 2 is a detached and sectional view through the axle, one Wheel and spring, enlarged. Fig. 3 is a planyiew of the mechanism for winding up the springs and for shifting the drums.

The drums B B, in which are inserted the coiled springs, are placed on the front and rear axles of thel car, and in the position as shown at Fig.

1. The mechanism for Winding the springs and for shifting the drums is operated from the platform. The tubes T T, Figs. 2 and 3, are made to encircle the axle A at a suitable distance from Each tube has attached to it a coiled spring, S, Fig. 2, which is Wound up through chain-pulleys P P, secured to and revolving the said tube. By means of endless chains C C, passed over the pulleys P P and P' P', Fig. 3, and the bevel-gearing G, G1, and G2, connected therewith ,a simultan cous mo vement ofboth tubes is produced when power is applied to the hand- Wheel H. The tubes T T have each secured at one end circular lian ges F F provided with projectin g lugs l l, which enga-ge with teetht t formed on the back part of the car-Wheels W W. The

-t'orce directly on thewheels.

opposite extremities of the tubes are somewhat i enlarged, in which are formed annular recesses to accommodate the forked ends of the jointed rods D D. The said rods are connected, by a rod, Pt, to a lever, L, which extends the proper height above the platform ot' the car. The pulleys P' P', over which are passed the chains C O, have attached to them the bevel-pinions G and Gl, the

'teeth oi' which play into the teeth of the bevcl wheel G2. This wheel receives its motion through an upright shaft, E, from the hand-WheelH. An iron frame, I, secured to the bottom of the platform,serves as a support for theshaft E and pinions G and G1. A The rods D I), when they are extended to their full length (through the lever L) on a line with the axle` A, will project the tubes, carrying with them the flan ges F F toward the car-Wheels, thus engaging the lugs l Z with the teeth Vformed on the back part of the wheels W W. The coiled springs, which have -been previously Wound up through the hand-Wheel H, are now released, and in expanding `will exert their The drums B B are centered loosely on the tubes T T, and are permitted to slide in and out, Without revolving, by means of guides, which embrace a rail' placed directly over the axle.

I claim as my invention* The combina-tion of the drums B B, tubes T T, coiled springs S, flanges F F, chain-pulleys P P and P' P', endless chains C C, bevel-gearing G, G1, and G2, shaft E, and hand-Wheel H, all arranged and operating in conjunction with the teeth t t of the car-Wheels W W, as and for the purpose herein specied.

l JOSEPH F. STOKES.

Witnesses:

ISAAC R. OAKFORD, CHRISTIAN BERGER. 

